Reactive oxygen species and immune regulation

Active targeting microemulsion-based thermosensitive hydrogel against periodontitis by reconstructing Th17/Treg homeostasis via regulating ROS-macrophages polarization cascade

Periodontitis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease characterized by severe alveolar bone damage and attachment loss. The imbalance of T help 17 (Th17) / regulatory T cells (Treg) induces excessive interleukin (IL)-17, which leads to alveolar bone damage and aggravates the development of periodontitis. Therefore, we proposed a therapeutic strategy to restore Th17/Treg homeostasis by interfering reactive oxygen species (ROS)-macrophage polarization cascade using active targeting microemulsions-based thermosensitive hydrogel. Folic acid-modified quercetin-loaded microemulsions (FA-Qu-MEs) were dispersed in poloxamer 407 and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) matrix of hydrogel (FA-Qu-MEs@Gel). FA-Qu-MEs@Gel could be locally injected into the periodontal pocket and sustainedly release drugs. FA-Qu-MEs exhibited excellent ROS scavenging potency by targeting macrophages, resulting M1 phenotype macrophage from to M2 phenotype macrophage. Subsequently, the phenotypic changes of macrophages lead to decreased expression of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, which inhibited activated Th17, while IL-10 secreted by M2 macrophages promoted Treg differentiation. Finally, the restored Th17/Treg homeostasis reduced the level of IL-17 to accelerate alveolar bone regeneration. This study deigns a novel system that promote alveolar bone regeneration by remodeling Th17/Treg homeostasis via regulating ROS-macrophages polarization cascade for periodontitis treatment.

Protective Effects of Isoliquiritigenin and Licochalcone B on the Immunotoxicity of BDE-47: Antioxidant Effects Based on the Activation of the Nrf2 Pathway and Inhibition of the NF-κB Pathway

2,2',4,4'-Tetrabrominated biphenyl ether (BDE-47) is a polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) homologue that is ubiquitous in biological samples and highly toxic to humans and other organisms. Prior research has confirmed that BDE-47 can induce oxidative damage in RAW264.7 cells, resulting in apoptosis and impaired immune function. The current study mainly focused on how Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) and Licochalcone B (LCB) might protect against BDE-47's immunotoxic effects on RAW264.7 cells. The results show that ISL and LCB could increase phagocytosis, increase the production of MHC-II, and decrease the production of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and co-stimulatory factors (CD40, CD80, and CD86), alleviating the immune function impairment caused by BDE-47. Secondly, both ISL and LCB could reduce the expressions of the proteins Bax and Caspase-3, promote the expression of the protein Bcl-2, and reduce the apoptotic rate, alleviating the apoptosis initiated by BDE-47. Additionally, ISL and LCB could increase the levels of antioxidant substances (SOD, CAT, and GSH) and decrease the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby counteracting the oxidative stress induced by BDE-47. Ultimately, ISL and LCB suppress the NF-κB pathway by down-regulating IKBKB and up-regulating IκB-Alpha in addition to activating the Nrf2 pathway and promoting the production of HO-1 and NQO1. To summarize, BDE-47 causes oxidative damage that can be mitigated by ISL and LCB through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway and inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, which in turn prevents immune function impairment and apoptosis. These findings enrich the current understanding of the toxicological molecular mechanism of BDE-47 and the detoxification mechanism of licorice.

Fulvic acid modulates mucosal immunity in fish skin: Sustainable aquaculture solution or environmental risk factor?

This is the first study determining the effects of bath exposure to fulvic acid, a humic substance, on the skin mucosal immunity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Humic substances have recently been gaining attention for their increasing concentrations in aquatic ecosystems and their use as supplements in sustainable aquaculture. This study demonstrated that water exposure to fulvic acid at concentrations of 5 mg C/L and 50 mg C/L increased lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activities in the mucus by approximately 2-fold and 2.5 to 3.2-fold, respectively. Furthermore, exposure to 50 mg C/L resulted in a 77.0% increase in mucosal immunoglobulin concentrations compared to the other groups. Importantly, all mucus samples demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Yersinia ruckeri, with control mucus reducing bacterial growth by 44.5% and exposure to fulvic acid increasing this effect to 26.3%. Although these modulations show promise for application in aquaculture, alterations of the beneficial microbiota from long-term exposure in natural waters can be expected. Monitoring the rising concentrations of humic substances in natural water bodies is therefore urgently needed. Overall, this study represents the first investigation revealing the ability of humic substances to modulate skin mucosal immunity and the capacity to combat microorganisms.

Bimetallic FeOx-TiO2@Carbon hybrid structure materials with notable peroxidase enzyme mimics applied to one-step colorimetric detection of glucose

FeOx-TiO2@Carbon hybrid structure materials (FeOx-TiO2@CHs) with high peroxidase (POD)-like activity have been prepared by one-pot hydrothermal method. Based on the excellent POD activity of FeOx-TiO2@CHs, one pot colorimetric detection for glucose was constructed by using TMB as substrate with the synergistic reaction of glucose oxidase; the linear range and the limit of detection (LOD) are 25 ~ 1000 and 1.77 µM, respectively. Using this method, the glucose in serum real samples was detected with satisfactory results, and the results are consistent with that of the glucometer method in the hospital. The recovery in diabetic and artificial urine samples was 95.71 ~ 104.67% and 99.01 ~ 103.16%, respectively. The mechanism of the catalytic colorimetric reaction was also investigated by multiple measurements, and the results indicated that superoxide anions (O2•-) between FeOx-TiO2@CHs and substrate play a main role, but a small quantity of hydroxyl radical •OH and singlet oxygen 1O2 is also generated simultaneously. The one-pot reaction method is simple and fast; the detection process only requires a simple mixing, which is suitable for application in special environment.

Oral Administration of Platinum Nanoparticles with SOD/CAT Cascade Catalytic Activity to Alleviate Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory chronic inflammatory disease involving the colon and rectum, falling under the category of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in local tissues has been identified as a crucial contributor to the escalation of inflammatory responses. Therefore, eliminating ROS in the inflamed colon is a promising approach to treating UC. Nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-like activities (nanozymes) have shown significant therapeutic potential in UC. In this study, we found that platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) exhibited remarkable superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) cascade catalytic activities, as well as effective hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging ability. The in vitro experiments showed that Pt NPs could eliminate excessive ROS to protect cells against oxidative stress. In the colitis model, oral administration of Pt NPs (loaded in chitosan/alginate hydrogel) could significantly alleviate UC, including reducing the colon length, the damaged epithelium, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Without appreciable systemic toxicity, Pt NPs represent a novel therapeutic approach to UC and are expected to achieve long-term inflammatory remission.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and indirect bilirubin may participate in systemic inflammation of patients with psoriatic arthritis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that systemic metabolic abnormalities are closely related to psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL), two essential active substances in hepatic metabolism that have been demonstrated as an oxidative and anti-oxidative factor respectively, have been proved to be involved in oxidative stress damage and inflammation in several human diseases. However, their role in PsA remains unclear.

METHODS

In this retrospective comparative cohort study, a case group of 68 PsA patients and a control group of 73 healthy volunteers from the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University were enrolled. Serum GGT, IBIL, GGT/IBIL ratio and C-reactive protein (CRP), a well applied bio-marker of systemic inflammatory in PsA, were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, the relationship of GGT, IBIL and GGT/IBIL with CRP were explored in PsA patients. Finally, the patients were divided into high inflammation group and low inflammation group according to the median value of CRP. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for the association of systemic inflammation level with GGT, IBIL and GGT/IBIL.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, PsA patients exhibited significantly higher serum GGT, GGT/IBIL, and CRP levels and lower IBIL levels. Serum GGT and GGT/IBIL were positively correlated with CRP, whereas IBIL were negatively correlated with CRP. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that serum GGT was a risk factor for high CRP in PsA, whereas IBIL was a protective factor. Furthermore, GGT/IBIL was a better indicator of high CRP condition in PsA patients than either GGT or IBIL alone, as determined by the receiver operating characteristic curves.

CONCLUSION

GGT and IBIL may participate in the pathogenesis of PsA. Additionally, GGT, IBIL and the balance of the two may reflect systemic inflammation mediated by oxidative stress events related to metabolic abnormalities to a certain extent.

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Monofloral Honeys from Chile

Honey is a mixture of compounds produced by bees that has been appreciated by humanity since the creation of the oldest civilizations. It has multiple uses and can be a highly nutritional and healing substance. It has been used in traditional medicine as a natural alternative for the treatment of diverse clinical conditions. This is due to its reported bioactive properties. The objective of this article is to exhibit and analyze the biological properties of different types of honey originating from Chile based on their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, focusing primarily on recompiling experimental studies made on monofloral honey of plant species present in the Chilean territory. The result of this bibliographical review shows that Chilean honey possesses remarkable bioactive properties, mainly antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, with a few studies on its anti-inflammatory activity. Most of these results were attributed to monofloral honey belonging to ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia) and quillay (Quillaja saponaria Molina) plant species. These properties are related to the presence of several bioactive components, such as phenolic components (mainly flavonoids), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), enzymes, proteins, and carbohydrates. The biodiversity of the flora and the environmental conditions of the Chilean territory are responsible for the wide range of bioactive compounds and biological properties found in Chilean honey. Further studies must be made to uncover the medicinal potential of these native honeys.

Evaluation of antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration stage B1

Myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) is the most common naturally occurring heart disease in dogs. There is a lack of data on antioxidant status and oxidative damage in dogs with MMVD stage B1 according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM B1). The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant status (plasma vitamin E, lipid-standardized vitamin E (LS-VitE), antioxidant capacity of lipid-(ACL) and water-soluble antioxidants, whole blood glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase), and lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)] in dogs with MMVD ACVIM B1. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were measured to calculate LS-VitE. Fourteen dogs with MMVD ACVIM B1 and 12 control dogs were included in the study. Dogs with MMVD had significantly higher vitamin E, ACL, MDA, and cholesterol concentrations and significantly higher LS-VitE values than control dogs. No significant correlations between MDA and antioxidant parameters were determined in either group. In conclusion, oxidative damage to lipids is already present and the antioxidant status is altered but not depleted in dogs with MMVD ACVIM B1. The antioxidant response to increased oxidative damage consists mainly of the activation of fat-soluble antioxidants. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and targets of early antioxidant supplementation to prevent or ameliorate oxidative stress and mitigate disease progression in dogs with early-stage MMVD.

Recent Advances in Nanozyme-Mediated Strategies for Pathogen Detection and Control

Pathogen detection and control have long presented formidable challenges in the domains of medicine and public health. This review paper underscores the potential of nanozymes as emerging bio-mimetic enzymes that hold promise in effectively tackling these challenges. The key features and advantages of nanozymes are introduced, encompassing their comparable catalytic activity to natural enzymes, enhanced stability and reliability, cost effectiveness, and straightforward preparation methods. Subsequently, the paper delves into the detailed utilization of nanozymes for pathogen detection. This includes their application as biosensors, facilitating rapid and sensitive identification of diverse pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and plasmodium. Furthermore, the paper explores strategies employing nanozymes for pathogen control, such as the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), HOBr/Cl regulation, and clearance of extracellular DNA to impede pathogen growth and transmission. The review underscores the vast potential of nanozymes in pathogen detection and control through numerous specific examples and case studies. The authors highlight the efficiency, rapidity, and specificity of pathogen detection achieved with nanozymes, employing various strategies. They also demonstrate the feasibility of nanozymes in hindering pathogen growth and transmission. These innovative approaches employing nanozymes are projected to provide novel options for early disease diagnoses, treatment, and prevention. Through a comprehensive discourse on the characteristics and advantages of nanozymes, as well as diverse application approaches, this paper serves as a crucial reference and guide for further research and development in nanozyme technology. The expectation is that such advancements will significantly contribute to enhancing disease control measures and improving public health outcomes.

Targeting reactive oxygen species and fat acid oxidation for the modulation of tumor-associated macrophages: a narrative review

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are significant immunocytes infiltrating the tumor microenvironment(TME). Recent research has shown that TAMs exhibit diversity in terms of their phenotype, function, time, and spatial distribution, which allows for further classification of TAM subtypes. The metabolic efficiency of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) varies among TAM subtypes. FAO is closely linked to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play a role in processes such as oxidative stress. Current evidence demonstrates that FAO and ROS can influence TAMs' recruitment, polarization, and phagocytosis ability either individually or in combination, thereby impacting tumor progression. But the specific mechanisms associated with these relationships still require further investigation. We will review the current status of research on the relationship between TAMs and tumor development from three aspects: ROS and TAMs, FAO and TAMs, and the interconnectedness of FAO, ROS, and TAMs.

Research progress into adipose tissue macrophages and insulin resistance

In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular events related to insulin resistance. As one of the target organs for insulin, adipose tissue is essential for maintaining in vivo immune homeostasis and metabolic regulation. Currently, the specific adipose tissue mechanisms involved in insulin resistance remain incompletely understood. There is increasing evidence that the process of insulin resistance is mostly accompanied by a dramatic increase in the number and phenotypic changes of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). In this review, we discuss the origins and functions of ATMs, some regulatory factors of ATM phenotypes, and the mechanisms through which ATMs mediate insulin resistance. We explore how ATM phenotypes contribute to insulin resistance in adipose tissue. We expect that modulation of ATM phenotypes will provide a novel strategy for the treatment of diseases associated with insulin resistance.

Liquid metal integrated PU/CNT fibrous membrane for human health monitoring

Wearable flexible sensors are widely used in several applications such as physiological monitoring, electronic skin, and telemedicine. Typically, flexible sensors that are made of elastomeric thin-films lack sufficient permeability, which leads to skin inflammation, and more importantly, affects signal detection and consequently, reduces the sensitivity of the sensor. In this study, we designed a flexible nanofibrous membrane with a high air permeability (6.10 mm/s), which could be effectively used to monitor human motion signals and physiological signals. More specifically, a flexible membrane with a point (liquid metal nanoparticles)-line (carbon nanotubes)-plane (liquid metal thin-film) multiscale conductive structure was fabricated by combining liquid metal (LM) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a polyurethane (PU) nanofibrous membrane. Interestingly, the excellent conductivity and fluidity of the liquid metal enhanced the sensitivity and stability of the membrane. More precisely, the gauge factor (GF) values of the membrane is 3.0 at 50% strain and 14.0 at 400% strain, which corresponds to a high strain sensitivity within the whole range of deformation. Additionally, the proposed membrane has good mechanical properties with an elongation at a break of 490% and a tensile strength of 12 MPa. Furthermore, the flexible membrane exhibits good biocompatibility and can efficiently monitor human health signals, thereby indicating potential for application in the field of wearable electronic devices.

Oxidative Stress and Epigenetics: miRNA Involvement in Rare Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) such as Sjögren’s syndrome, Kawasaki disease, and systemic sclerosis are characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and autoantibodies, which cause joint tissue damage, vascular injury, fibrosis, and debilitation. Epigenetics participate in immune cell proliferation and differentiation, which regulates the development and function of the immune system, and ultimately interacts with other tissues. Indeed, overlapping of certain clinical features between ADs indicate that numerous immunologic-related mechanisms may directly participate in the onset and progression of these diseases. Despite the increasing number of studies that have attempted to elucidate the relationship between miRNAs and oxidative stress, autoimmune disorders and oxidative stress, and inflammation and miRNAs, an overall picture of the complex regulation of these three actors in the pathogenesis of ADs has yet to be formed. This review aims to shed light from a critical perspective on the key AD-related mechanisms by explaining the intricate regulatory ROS/miRNA/inflammation axis and the phenotypic features of these rare autoimmune diseases. The inflamma-miRs miR-155 and miR-146, and the redox-sensitive miR miR-223 have relevant roles in the inflammatory response and antioxidant system regulation of these diseases. ADs are characterized by clinical heterogeneity, which impedes early diagnosis and effective personalized treatment. Redox-sensitive miRNAs and inflamma-miRs can help improve personalized medicine in these complex and heterogeneous diseases.

Pushpin-like nanozyme for plasmon-enhanced tumor targeted therapy

Relatively low catalytic activity and poor targeting limit the applications of nanoceria (CeO₂) nanozymes in the treatment of tumors. Here, we designed a unique pushpin-like Au/CeO₂ hybrid nanozyme with high catalytic activity by combining site-selective growth and steric restriction strategies. The enhanced enzyme activity was attributed to plasmon-induced hot electrons. Furthermore, the pushpin-like structure facilitated targeting molecule modification. The nanozyme exhibited superior antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo due to its high catalytic activity and targeting effects. Importantly, its potential mechanism of anti-tumor therapy was studied by quantitative proteomics. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by folic acid-PEG thiol-Au/CeO₂ (FA-Au/CeO₂) caused mitochondrial and proteasomal damage in tumor cells and further evoked a response to oxidative stress and innate immunity in vivo. This study provided a spatiotemporal approach to enhance the antitumor activity of nanozymes by structural design. The designed pushpin-like Au/CeO₂ could be utilized as a multifunctional nanoplatform for in vitro and in vivo plasmon-enhanced cancer therapy with active targeting effects. Moreover, this study systematically explored the anti-tumor mechanism of the nanozyme in both cell and mouse models, promoting its translation to the clinic. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A strategy combining the principles of site-selective growth and steric restriction was developed to prepare a unique pushpin-like Au/CeO₂ hybrid nanozyme with high catalytic activity and low steric hindrance. The hybrid nanozyme showed superior antitumor activity at both the cellular and tissue levels. Furthermore, the antitumor mechanism was investigated in terms of the differential proteins and their pathways using quantitative proteomics, thus promoting the translation of nanozymes to the clinic.

Comprehensive landscape of immune-based classifier related to early diagnosis and macrophage M1 in spinal cord injury

Numerous studies have documented that immune responses are crucial in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI). Our study aimed to uncover the function of immune-related genes (IRGs) in SCI. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the transcriptome data of SCI and healthy controls (HC) obtained from the GEO Database integrating bioinformatics and experiments. First, a total of 2067 DEGs were identified between the SCI and HC groups. Functional enrichment analysis revealed substantial immune-related pathways and functions that were abnormally activated in the SCI group. Immune analysis revealed that myeloid immune cells were predominantly upregulated in SCI patients, while a large number of lymphoid immune cells were dramatically downregulated. Subsequently, 51 major IRGs were screened as key genes involved in SCI based on the intersection of the results of WGCNA analysis, DEGs, and IRGs. Based on the expression profiles of these genes, two distinct immune modulation patterns were recognized exhibiting opposite immune characteristics. Moreover, 2 core IRGs (FCER1G and NFATC2) were determined to accurately predict the occurrence of SCI via machine learning. qPCR analysis was used to validate the expression of core IRGs in an external independent cohort. Finally, the expression of these core IRGs was validated by sequencing, WB, and IF analysis in vivo. We found that these two core IRGs were closely associated with immune cells and verified the co-localization of FCER1G with macrophage M1 via IF analysis. Our study revealed the key role of immune-related genes in SCI and contributed to a fresh perspective for early diagnosis and treatment of SCI.

HOIP modulates the stability of GPx4 by linear ubiquitination

LUBAC-mediated linear ubiquitination plays a pivotal role in regulation of cell death and inflammatory pathways. Genetic deficiency in LUBAC components leads to severe immune dysfunction or embryonic lethality. LUBAC has been extensively studied for its role in mediating TNF signaling. However, Tnfr1 knockout is not able to fully rescue the embryonic lethality of LUBAC deficiency, suggesting that LUBAC may modify additional key cellular substrates in promoting cell survival. GPx4 is an important selenoprotein involved in regulating cellular redox homeostasis in defense against lipid peroxidation-mediated cell death known as ferroptosis. Here we demonstrate that LUBAC deficiency sensitizes to ferroptosis by promoting GPx4 degradation and downstream lipid peroxidation. LUBAC binds and stabilizes GPx4 by modulating its linear ubiquitination both in normal condition and under oxidative stress. Our findings identify GPx4 as a key substrate of LUBAC and a previously unrecognized role of LUBAC-mediated linear ubiquitination in regulating cellular redox status and cell death.

Gallium-Based Liquid Metal Materials for Antimicrobial Applications

The hazards caused by drug-resistant bacteria are rocketing along with the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. The development of new non-antibiotic antibacterial drugs is urgent. The excellent biocompatibility and diverse multifunctionalities of liquid metal have stimulated the studies of antibacterial application. Several gallium-based antimicrobial agents have been developed based on the mechanism that gallium (a type of liquid metal) ions disorder the normal metabolism of iron ions. Other emerging strategies, such as physical sterilization by directly using LM microparticles to destroy the biofilm of bacteria or thermal destruction via infrared laser irradiation, are gaining increasing attention. Different from traditional antibacterial agents of gallium compounds, the pronounced property of gallium-based liquid metal materials would bring innovation to the antibacterial field. Here, LM-based antimicrobial mechanisms, including iron metabolism disorder, production of reactive oxygen species, thermal injury, and mechanical destruction, are highlighted. Antimicrobial applications of LM-based materials are summarized and divided into five categories, including liquid metal motors, antibacterial fabrics, magnetic field-responsive microparticles, liquid metal films, and liquid metal polymer composites. In addition, future opportunities and challenges towards the development and application of LM-based antimicrobial materials are presented.

ROS-responsive hydrogel coating modified titanium promotes vascularization and osteointegration of bone defects by orchestrating immunomodulation

Ideal titanium implants are required to participate in bone repair actively to improve in situ osteointegration. However, the traditional surface functionalization methods of titanium implants are difficult to both achieve the active regulation and long-term stability of bioactive components. Here, a novel functionalized titanium which loaded with thymosin β4 (Tβ4) and covered by a hydrogel coating was designed and evaluated. A strong adhesion between the coating and the titanium substrate was realized by the synergistic action of borate ester bonds and surface topological structure. The hydrogel coating also achieved an in vivo adhesion between implant and tissue through hydrogen bonds and borate bonds. In addition, based on the ROS response property of borate bonds, the implant can release Tβ4 in response to the immune reaction of bone healing by regulating the polarization of macrophages, thereby reducing the fibrosis formation around the implant interface and promoting vascularization and osteointegration of bone defects.

Radicals Scavenging MOFs Enabling Targeting Delivery of siRNA for Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Macrophages play essential roles in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which are polarized into the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype with significant oxidative stress and cytokines excretion. Herein, an active targeting nanomedicine based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to re-educate the diseased macrophages for RA therapy is reported. The MOFs are prepared via coordination between tannic acid (TA) and Fe³⁺ , and anti-TNF-α siRNA is loaded via a simple sonication process, achieving high loading capacity comparable to cationic vectors. The MOFs show excellent biocompatibility, and enable rapid endo/lysosome escape of siRNA via the proton-sponge effect for effective cytokines down-regulation. Importantly, such nanomedicine displays intrinsic radicals scavenging capability to eliminate a broad spectrum of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which in turn repolarizes the M1 macrophages into anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes for enhanced RA therapy in combination with siRNA. The MOFs are further modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to allow cascade RA joint and diseased macrophages targeted delivery. As a result, an excellent anti-RA efficacy is achieved in a collagen-induced arthritis mice model. This work provides a robust gene vector with great translational potential, and offers a vivid example of rationally designing MOF structure with multifunctionalities to synergize with its payload for enhanced disease treatment.

Perkinsus marinus suppresses in vitro eastern oyster apoptosis via IAP-dependent and caspase-independent pathways involving TNFR, NF-kB, and oxidative pathway crosstalk

The protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus causes Dermo disease in eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, and can suppress apoptosis of infected hemocytes using incompletely understood mechanisms. This study challenged hemocytes in vitro with P. marinus for 1 h in the presence or absence of caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK or Inhibitor of Apoptosis protein (IAP) inhibitor GDC-0152. Hemocytes exposure to P. marinus significantly reduced granulocyte apoptosis, and pre-incubation with Z-VAD-FMK did not affect P. marinus-induced apoptosis suppression. Hemocyte pre-incubation with GDC-0152 prior to P. marinus challenge further reduced apoptosis of granulocytes with engulfed parasite, but not mitochondrial permeabilization. This suggests P. marinus-induced apoptosis suppression may be caspase-independent, affect an IAP-involved pathway, and occur downstream of mitochondrial permeabilization. P. marinus challenge stimulated hemocyte differential expression of oxidation-reduction, TNFR, and NF-kB pathways. WGCNA analysis of P. marinus expression in response to hemocyte exposure revealed correlated protease, kinase, and hydrolase expression that could contribute to P. marinus-induced apoptosis suppression.

Psoriasis between Autoimmunity and Oxidative Stress: Changes Induced by Different Therapeutic Approaches

Psoriasis is defined as chronic, immune-mediated disease. Regardless of the development of new therapeutic approaches, the precise etiology of psoriasis remains unknown and speculative. The aim of this review was to systematize the results of previous research on the role of oxidative stress and aberrant immune response in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, as well as the impact of certain therapeutic modalities on the oxidative status in patients with psoriasis. Complex immune pathways of both the innate and adaptive immune systems appear to be major pathomechanisms in the development of psoriasis. Oxidative stress represents another important contributor to the pathophysiology of disease, and the redox imbalance in psoriasis has been reported in skin cells and, systemically, in plasma and blood cells, and more recently, also in saliva. Current immune model of psoriasis begins with activation of immune system in susceptible person by some environmental factor and loss of immune tolerance to psoriasis autoantigens. Increased production of IL-17 appears to be the most prominent role in psoriasis pathogenesis, while IL-23 is recognized as master regulator in psoriasis having a specific role in cross bridging the production of IL-17 by innate and acquired immunity. Other proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-22, IL-26, IL-29, or IL-36, have also been reported to play important roles in the development of psoriasis. Oxidative stress can promote inflammation through several signaling pathways. The most noticeable and most powerful antioxidative effects exert various biologics compared to more convenient therapeutic modalities, such as methotrexate or phototherapy. The complex interaction of redox, immune, and inflammatory signaling pathways should be focused on further researches tackling the pathophysiology of psoriasis, while antioxidative supplementation could be the solution in some refractory cases of the disease.

Gender differences in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: A retrospective study based on the population of Hubei Province, China

OBJECTIVE

The aims of the present study were to investigate gender differences in the clinicopathological features, distant metastasis and prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) in a Chinese population, and to identify any important gaps in the classification and management of pNENs relative to gender.

METHODS

Retrospective collection of the clinicopathological data of 193 patients with pathologically confirmed pNENs were analyzed and follow up was extended to observe the prognosis of the disease. Differences between genders in basic characteristics, clinical symptoms, comorbidities, and tumor parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in females and males, however, moderately higher for females (52.8% vs. 47.2%), with the largest subgroup being 40~60 years of age (54.9%). Age at onset (P=0.002) and age at diagnosis (P=0.005) were both younger in females compared to males. Males lived more in urban areas and females lived more in rural areas (P=0.047). The proportion of smokers and alcohol drinkers was significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.001). Non-functional pNENs were more frequent in males and functional pNENs in females (P=0.032). In women, functional status of the tumor was significantly associated with metastatic outcome (P=0.007) and functional tumors proved to be a protective factor compared to non-functional tumors (OR=0.090,95% CI: 0.011~ 0.752). There were no gender differences in tumor size, location, grade, stage or prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender differences in some clinicopathological features, and distant metastasis in patients with pNENs were identified, which suggested certain management details that justified emphasis based on gender.

Re-emerging concepts of immune dysregulation in autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by communication and social interaction deficits, and by restricted interests and stereotyped, repetitive behavior patterns. ASD has a strong genetic component and a complex architecture characterized by the interplay of rare and common genetic variants. Recently, increasing evidence suggest a significant contribution of immune system dysregulation in ASD. The present paper reviews the latest updates regarding the altered immune landscape of this complex disorder highlighting areas with potential for biomarkers discovery as well as personalization of therapeutic approaches. Cross-talk between the central nervous system and immune system has long been envisaged and recent evidence brings insights into the pathways connecting the brain to the immune system. Disturbance of cytokine levels plays an important role in the establishment of a neuroinflammatory milieu in ASD. Several other immune molecules involved in antigen presentation and inflammatory cellular phenotypes are also at play in ASD. Maternal immune activation, the presence of brain-reactive antibodies and autoimmunity are other potential prenatal and postnatal contributors to ASD pathophysiology. The molecular players involved in oxidative-stress response and mitochondrial system function, are discussed as contributors to the pro-inflammatory pattern. The gastrointestinal inflammation pathways proposed to play a role in ASD are also discussed. Moreover, the body of evidence regarding some of the genetic factors linked to the immune system dysregulation is reviewed and discussed. Last, but not least, the epigenetic traits and their interactions with the immune system are reviewed as an expanding field in ASD research. Understanding the immune-mediated pathways that influence brain development and function, metabolism, and intestinal homeostasis, may lead to the identification of robust diagnostic or predictive biomarkers for ASD individuals. Thus, novel therapeutic approaches could be developed, ultimately aiming to improve their quality of life.

The protective effects of 1,3-butanediol acetoacetate diester on decompression sickness in rats

Inert gas bubbles are widely accepted as the causative factor of decompression sickness (DCS), resulting in gas embolism and systemic inflammatory responses. The anticonvulsive ketone ester 1,3-butanediol acetoacetate diester (BD-AcAc₂) was reported to have the characteristics of increasing blood oxygen partial pressure (ppO₂) and anti-inflammation and was thought to have the potential to reduce bubble formation and alleviate the pathological process of DCS. This study aims to investigate the potential protection of BD-AcAc₂ against DCS in a rat model. A single dose of BD-AcAc₂ was administered orally to adult male rats (5 g/kg body wt), followed by pharmacokinetic analysis or simulated air dives. After decompression, signs of DCS were monitored, and blood was sampled for biochemical measurements. Blood ketosis peaked at 2 h and lasted for more than 4 h. The incidence of DCS was decreased and postponed significantly in rats treated with BD-AcAc₂ compared with those treated with saline (P < 0.05). Although BD-AcAc₂ failed to reduce bubble load (P > 0.05), it showed an obvious decreasing trend. BD-AcAc₂ significantly increased blood ppO₂ and ameliorated oxidative and inflammatory responses, represented by increased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α and decreased glutathione thiol (P < 0.05) levels, whereas blood pH remained unchanged (P > 0.05). These results suggest that BD-AcAc₂ exerted beneficial effects on DCS rats mainly related to increasing ppO₂ and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Together with its capacity for delaying central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity seizures, BD-AcAc₂ might be an ideal drug candidate for DCS prevention and treatment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study exploring the effects of BD-AcAc₂ on DCS prevention, and it was proven to be an efficient and simple method. The role of BD-AcAc₂ in increasing ppO₂, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties was thought to be the critical mechanism in DCS prevention.

Genome-Wide CRISPR/Cas9 Screen Identifies New Genes Critical for Defense Against Oxidant Stress in Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread apicomplexans and can cause serious infections in humans and animals. Its antioxidant system plays an important role in defending against oxidant stress imposed by the host. Some genes encoding the antioxidant enzymes of T. gondii have been identified; however, critical genes that function in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress are still poorly understood. Here, we performed genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function screening in the T. gondii RH strain to identify potential genes contributing to the ROS stress response. Under hydrogen peroxide treatment, 30 single guide RNAs targeting high-confidence genes were identified, including some known important antioxidant genes such as catalase and peroxiredoxin PRX3. In addition, several previously uncharacterized genes were identified, among which five hypothetical protein-coding genes, namely, HP1–HP5, were selected for further functional characterization. Targeted deletion of HP1 in T. gondii RH led to significant sensitivity to H₂O₂, suggesting that HP1 is critical for oxidative stress management. Furthermore, loss of HP1 led to decreased antioxidant capacity, invasion efficiency, and proliferation in vitro. In vivo results also revealed that the survival time of mice infected with the HP1-KO strain was significantly prolonged relative to that of mice infected with the wild-type strain. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used to identify potential genes critical for oxidative stress management. Furthermore, HP1 may confer protection against oxidative damage and contributes to T. gondii virulence in mice.

Small molecules regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis for cancer therapy

Elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense systems have been recognized as one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. Compared with normal cells, cancer cells exhibit increased ROS to maintain their malignant phenotypes and are more dependent on the "redox adaptation" mechanism. Thus, there are two apparently contradictory but virtually complementary therapeutic strategies for the regulation of ROS to prevent or treat cancer. The first strategy, that is, chemoprevention, is to prevent or reduce intracellular ROS either by suppressing ROS production pathways or by employing antioxidants to enhance ROS clearance, which protects normal cells from malignant transformation and inhibits the early stage of tumorigenesis. The second strategy is the ROS-mediated anticancer therapy, which stimulates intracellular ROS to a toxicity threshold to activate ROS-induced cell death pathways. Therefore, targeting the regulation of intracellular ROS-related pathways by small-molecule candidates is considered to be a promising treatment for tumors. We herein first briefly introduce the source and regulation of ROS, and then focus on small molecules that regulate ROS-related pathways and show efficacy in cancer therapy from the perspective of pharmacophores. Finally, we discuss several challenges in developing cancer therapeutic agents based on ROS regulation and propose the direction of future development.

Mayaro Virus Pathogenesis and Transmission Mechanisms

Mayaro virus (MAYV), isolated for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago, has captured the attention of public health authorities worldwide following recent outbreaks in the Americas. It has a propensity to be exported outside its original geographical range, because of the vast distribution of its vectors. Moreover, most of the world population is immunologically naïve with respect to infection with MAYV which makes this virus a true threat. The recent invasion of several countries by Aedesalbopictus underscores the risk of potential urban transmission of MAYV in both tropical and temperate regions. In humans, the clinical manifestations of MAYV disease range from mild fever, rash, and joint pain to arthralgia. In the absence of a licensed vaccine and clinically proven therapeutics against Mayaro fever, prevention focuses mainly on household mosquito control. However, as demonstrated for other arboviruses, mosquito control is rather inefficient for outbreak management and alternative approaches to contain the spread of MAYV are therefore necessary. Despite its strong epidemic potential, little is currently known about MAYV. This review addresses various aspects of MAYV, including its epidemiology, vector biology, mode of transmission, and clinical complications, as well as the latest developments in MAYV diagnosis.